Man dies after running into burning home to rescue woman, child

WASHINGTON CITY — A 60-year-old man has died as a result of injuries he sustained while running into a burning Washington City home Monday night to rescue his neighbors – a woman and her child who were both transported by medical helicopter to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The man, identified by his family as Richard Kirkland, was on his way home Monday evening when he saw the mobile home, located at 441 E. Angie Lane, engulfed in flames.

A Washington City man has died and a woman and her 3-year-old child are in critical condition following a fire at a mobile home located at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Brad Jensen, St. George News

Kirkland kicked in the door of the burning home, yelled out and ran inside to try to rescue anyone who may have been trapped in the residence, his niece, who asked not to be named in this report, said.

Other neighbors who noticed the rapidly growing inferno also jumped into action trying to hose down the mobile home while waiting for emergency crews to respond, witnesses said.

Debbie Jones said she and her husband tried to help knock the flames out with a fire extinguisher and water hose.

“We tried so hard to get the fire out,” Jones said, adding: “It went fast.”

Neighbor Mark Todd described the fire as “huge” with “massive” flames.

Firefighters respond to a mobile home fire, Washington, Utah, Dec. 5, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Washington City Police and Fire departments were dispatched to the fire at approximately 7 p.m. Police officers were first to arrive on scene and found the residence fully engulfed in flames, Washington City Police Public Information Officer Ed Kantor said Tuesday.

“First responders received information that there were victims inside the residence,” Kantor said. “Rescue efforts were initiated and three victims were located inside the residence.”

Rescue crews pulled Kirkland and a 27-year-old woman and her 3-year-old girl from the burning home, Kantor said. Kirkland and the child were reportedly not breathing at the time, and the woman was unconscious.

Intermountain Life Flight was dispatched to the scene and landed in the parking lot of a nearby church.

The aftermath of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The 3-year-old girl was transported by Life Flight while Kirkland and the woman were transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.

Kirkland was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The woman and 3-year-old were later transported by air to University Medical Center in Las Vegas where they remain in critical condition, Kantor said Tuesday.

As this report is published, authorities had not released the name of the woman and child.

There is an ongoing investigation into the cause and origin of the fire, Kantor said, adding that the home was completely destroyed and that the total lost property value had yet to be determined.

The aftermath of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Washington City firefighters stayed with the home through the night to ensure nothing at the scene was disturbed. Personnel from the State Fire Marshal’s Office arrived on scene just before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire.

By Tuesday afternoon, people across social media were echoing the sentiment that Kirkland had died a “hero.”

Cylie Campbell told St. George News she had known Kirkland her entire life as he had worked as a cook at St. Helens Restaurant and Sports Bar in Washington City, owned by her grandparents.

“He ran into the house to save the (child) and woman. He died a hero,” Campbell said, noting that Kirkland was like family to her and that “his death has shaken the community.”

“Richard was a man who had his many ups and downs, but he always remained a very selfless man who especially loved children,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Many young children called him their Grandpa. He holds a special place in the heart of every person he knew, especially his family members. He died doing exactly what he was known for: helping others without expectation. He was a kind and gentle man who never asked for thanks.”

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A Washington City man has died and a woman and her 3-year-old child are in critical condition following a fire at a mobile home located at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The aftermath of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The aftermath of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

A Washington City man died after trying to rescue a woman and her 3-year-old child from a mobile home fire at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

A Washington City man died after trying to rescue a woman and her 3-year-old child from a mobile home fire at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a Washington City man and left a woman and her 3-year-old child in critical condition, 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

A Washington City man died after trying to rescue a woman and her 3-year-old child from a mobile home fire at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

A Washington City man and 3-year-old child died after succumbing to the injuries they received during a mobile home fire located at 441 E. Angie Lane, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 6, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Brad Jensen, St. George News

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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About the Author

Kimberly Scott is a lifetime resident of Southern Utah. In 2013, Kimberly joined St. George News as a vital member of its editing, reporting and administrative team. She is passionate about engaging communities through writing and is dedicated to providing complete and accurate coverage of both anticipated and breaking news.